Evaluating the safety of mental health-related prescribing in UK primary care: a cross-sectional study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) (25 August 2021)

Summary

The authors of this research study, published in BMJ Quality & Safety looked at the issues of hazardous prescribing and inadequate monitoring in patients with mental health issues being managed in primary care. They identified a lack of data in this area, despite most patients with mental illness receiving treatment in a primary care setting.

The study found that:

• 9.4% of patients ‘at risk’ triggered at least one indicator for potentially hazardous prescribing. The risk was greatest for patients aged 35–44, females and those receiving more than 10 repeat prescriptions.
• 90.2% of patients ‘at risk’ triggered at least one indicator for inadequate monitoring. The risk was particularly high in people under the age of 25, females and those with one or no repeat prescription.

The authors of the study hope their findings will support providers to reduce risk and improve care for patients who receive mental health treatment in primary care.